The mace is a traditional metaphor for university authority, roots, reputation and scholarship that dates to the first universities founded during the Middle Ages. Like faculty regalia, the mace adds to academic processions commemoration, elegance, honor, pageantry, purpose, quality, solemnity and stability.
The Cornerstone mace is ultimately an expression of honor to our sovereign God, who gave the gift of learning and revealed the source of Truth.
Dr. Orpha Galloway, emeritus professor of music, bore Cornerstone University’s mace during its inaugural presentation at the fall convocation ceremony on Aug. 24, 2005.
Design and Development
Dr. Rex M. Rogers, former Cornerstone president, conceived the idea for a Cornerstone University mace more than six years before its inauguration. But, he did not find a project leader until 2002, when Rogers asked Galloway to coordinate its design and development.
Galloway researched university mace history, style, artistry, symbolism and presentation during the next several months. Both she and Rogers visited other universities to view their maces and learn the stories of their development. Galloway then began making a sketch of the mace, detailing its size, shape and symbols. Many content ideas were tested and discarded as the sketch progressed through several versions.
The finished sketch described a 54-inch, wooden mace with Christian worldview as its dominant theme. Galloway set aside shorter mace designs to provide ample physical space for the symbols. She judged wood was richer, warmer and less militaristic than metal; also, a very beautiful wood mace would be less expensive than a metal one. She also rejected multiple Michigan and academic themes. The Christian worldview theme let the mace tell the story of the university’s mission and connect to campus sculpture.
Galloway consulted Dr. Michael Wittmer, professor of systematic and historical theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and Mark Blocher, associate professor of interdisciplinary studies at the Professional & Graduate Studies Division, concerning the Christian worldview symbolism during the mace’s designing and physical development.
Craftsmanship
Galloway chose Charles Smalligan, a Grand Rapids resident, as the mace woodcarver. Smalligan selected Honduran mahogany and crafted the mace in 54 hours — a remarkably short time. In collaboration with Galloway and Rogers, he made several design changes during the construction.
Community Bible Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., donated an oak hymnbook rack, from which Smalligan carved the Bible depicted in the university seal on the mace. Community Bible Baptist Church was originally named Wealthy Street Baptist Church and was the birthplace of Cornerstone University in 1941.
Superior Furniture in Lowell, Mich., applied the catalyzed lacquer finish, which gives the mace its sheen. The coloration of the mace varies with the natural tones of the Honduran mahogany.
Randy Dice and Jeff Juhas of Herkner’s Jewelers in Grand Rapids, Mich., gifted all of the metal and jewels on the mace. Juhas spent 52 hours crafting and installing metal and jewel work. Jim DeVries, also of Grand Rapids, Mich., designed and crafted the silver plaques that depict the creation story from Genesis. Dave Lorenz of Visbeen Associates Architects drew the crown, and Wayne Visbeen, president of the company, gifted the design.
Stan Beloncis of Bouma Construction in Grand Rapids, Mich., made the mace’s standard, or pedestal, with a black marble base and poplar-wood arms. Doug Bouma, CEO of Bouma Construction, gifted the materials and work to construct the standard and permanent display case.
The making of the mace required more than a year from summer 2004 to summer 2005.
